The Movies ... and the People Who Make Them (1940)

"The MOVIES 1940” LUCKY PARTNERS: Produced by George Haight for RKO Radio Director: Lewis Milestone Screenplay: Allan Scott, John vqn Druten Story: Sacha Guitry Music Score: Dimitri Tiomkin Photography: Robert de Grasse Art Director: Van Nesf Eolglase Editor: Henry Berman David Ronald Colman Jean Ginger Rogers Freddie Jack Carson Aunt ... Spring Byington Mrs. Sylvester . Cecilia Loftus Judge \Harry Davenport Niagara Cferk Hugh O’Connell Mr. Sylvester Brandon Tynan Nick No. 1 Leon Belasco Nick 'No. 2 Edward Conrad Wendell Walter Kingsford Ethel’s Mother Lucile Gleason Ethel ................ Helen Lynd Sophisticated, gay and whimsical romantic comedy about two Greenwich Villagers who go on a make-believe honeymoon to Niagara Falls. (Adults 8C Young People) (Running time, 98 minutes) Lucky Partners is a captivating, merry, and at times charming comedy based on Sacha Guitry’s “Bonne Chance.” Story developments are improbable, but delightfully so, and the fanciful incidents are adroitly manipulated for maximum entertainment appeal. It’s the sort of film which is easy to appreciate, but rather difficult to analyze. Much of the comedy arises from mere half-looks, from gestures, and deft timing. Jean Newton, who works in her Aunt Lucy’s book shop in Greenwich Village, meets David Grant, an obscure Village artist, and acting on a whim, asks him to go halves with her on a sweepstakes ticket. David agrees — on condition that she take a “brother-sister” honeymoon with him before she marries her dullwitted insurance man fiance, Freddie. Of course luck holds, and the pair drive off for Niagara Falls. Freddie however, becomes suspicious and pursues them. After ascertaining that they have adjoining rooms in the hotel and are registered as brother and sister, he decides to break in at a late hour and surprise them. David, meanwhile, has fallen in love with Jean, but after the two have retired for the night, he quietly checks out. Freddie bursts in, insinuates till Jean breaks their engagement. Then all three are arrested ■ — ■ David for speeding, Jean for posing as his sister, and Freddie for breaking down the door. The climax is an amusing trial scene during which David's sudden departure is satisfactorily explained. Freddie is ordered to pay damages; Jean and David return to Niagara Falls for a real honeymoon. Such a bare plot outline scarcely does justice to a story which owes much of its appeal to whimsical overtones and frivolous byplay. Lewis Milestone’s direction maintains the pace at a clip which all but eliminates dull moments. The production mounting adds to the film’s flavor, as does the photography and music score. Scott and van Druten’s screenplay of course, deserves credit for most of the brisk dialogue. Ronald Colman Ginger Rogers “LUCKY PARTNERS” Ronald Colman and Ginger Rogers, paired tor the first time, manage delightful performances. Cast as the debonair David, Colman reveals a decided flare for restrained romantic farce, and Ginger as the impulsive Jean confirms her reputation as one of Hollywood’s most pleasing comediennes. Jack Carson contributes a fun-helpful performance as prosaic Freddie, while Harry Davenport as a smalltown judge scores with an exceptional characterization. Spring Byington as Ginger’s aunt, and others, make good use of lesser roles. SPIES IN THE AIR: Associated British release of British National production. Presented by Film Alliance in U. S. Director: David MacDonald Screenplay: A. R. Rawlinson, Bridget Boland Story: Jeffrey Dell Photography: Bryan Langley Thurloe Barry K. Barnes Dorothy Joan Marion Houghton Roger Livesey Colonel Cairns Felix Aylmer Porter Henry Oscar Hooper Wallace Douglas Cogswell Hal Walters Madison Basil Radford Passable British-made spy melodrama about a traitorous test pilot who spins a web of deceit at a secret airdrome. (Adults 8C Young People) (Running time, 62 minutes) This is another in the current plethora of spy pictures. The film is interesting, but too flawed to achieve wide appeal. A sketchy story, awkward editing, and inarticulate British accents weaken the ef fort’s effectiveness. Thurloe, a test pilot employed at a hidden British airdrome, becomes an enemy spy, steals plans, carrys on an illicit affair with a designer’s wife, and is finally trapped by Scotland Yard. The liaison shares prominence with the spy angle. The film frequently gathers suspense as the story progresses, but too many of the sequences appear disjointed. The performance of Harry K. Barnes as Thurloe is particularly credible, and he is ably assisted by Roger Livsey as the unsuspecting designer. Joan Marion as the unfaithful wife is just adequate. It’s acceptable though scarcely exceptional screen fare. EARL of PUDDLESTONE: Produced and distributed by Republic Screenplay: Val Burton, Ewart Adamson Photography: Jack Marta Editoh Ernest Nims Joe Higgins James Gleason Lil Higgins Lucile Gleason Sidney Higgins Russell Gleason Grandpa Harry Davtnport Betty Higgins Lois Ranson Tommy Higgins Tommy Ryan Horatio Bottomley Eric Blore Mrs. Potter-Potter Betty Blythe Tittington Forrester Harvey Henry Potter-Potter .... William Halligan Marian Potter-Potter Mary Ainslee Bill Connolly William Brady Homer Ben Carter Officer Brannigan James C. Morton Lord Stoke-Newington .... Aubrey Mather Judith Mary Kenyon Humorous comedy drama in which the Higgins Family poses as royalty. (Adults 8C Young People) (Running time, 67 minutes) This latest Higgins Family adventure develops along familiar lines, but the complications seem amusing enough to entertain most audiences. A number of passable musical numbers are worked into the plot, apparently as a build-up for Lois Ranson, who portrays Betty Higgins. When Betty is edged out of a talent show being staged by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Potter-Potter, Grandpa Higgins hires Tittington, a phony lawyer to turn the Higgins into socialites by supplying a fake British title. Joe Higgins discovers the deception of course, but says nothing because Betty has been taken into the talent show and he himself has been given a job by Potter-Potter. Finally Tittington exposes the Higgins Family at a fancy dress ball, and everything looks pretty black. Potter-Potter turns out to be not so bad after all however, and sticks by the Higgins in spite of his snobbish wife. The film moves along without any major hitches, making the most of its modest budget. The three Gleasons — James, Lucille and Russell — as Joe, Lil, and Sidney Higgins head the cast with experienced portrayals. Harry Davenport as Grandpa, Lois Ranson as Betty, and Tommy Ryan as Tommy ably fill out the family group, while Eric Blore as Bottomely, the butler, Forrester Harvey as Tittington, and William Halligan as Potter-Potter muster good support. The late Gus Meins, not credited, produced and directed. 11?